|
.
HomeComing / 3rd Thursday
Sottile Park 5 - 8 PM -- September 16, 2010
Every Fall, on campuses throughout the United States, schools set aside one weekend when alums can
return "home" -- as schools like to think of themselves --for "Homecoming." The event is not specific
to a commencement class; "Homecoming" is an event for all graduates.
HomeComing / 3rd Thursday is inspired by this annual, multi-generational reunion. However,
it is not just reserved for graduates from Pittsfield's public and private schools. Many people, born and educated
to some level in the school systems, transfer to another school from which they are graduated; or, they are transferred
away through their parents' relocation. Additionally, many adults spend years in Pittsfield, move away, yet still
consider the city, "Home."
"Homecoming" 3rd Thursday is for all who consider Pittsfield their
home!
On 3rd Thursday, September 16th, at Sottile Park, John Sottile, son of the park's namesake, will
produce the First Annual Homecoming by spinning music from the decades* and tying that music to milestone events of
the city. Featured within the pop tunes will be music from "Oklahoma," which was the outdoor musical play performed
at Wahconah Park in 1961 under the direction of Robert "Bob" Boland, that celebrated the city's Bicentennial.
Up-tempo and ballads from Ragtime to Rap including Uptown, Motown, and Cowtown... plus
sing-alongs, will be spun by Sottile who foresees this as an annual event, commencing on the 3rd Thursday in September and
continuing through the weekend. By his assessment, "Pittsfield and The Berkshires are not more beautiful than in
early Autumn. There is no better time to return "home" for a HomeComing Weekend."
OKLAHOMA!
Performed At Wahconah Park 1961
In Celebration of Pittsfield’s Bicentennial
Directed by Robert “Bob” Boland
Oklahoma!
is a musical play first performed on Broadway in 1943. The music was composed
by Richard Rodgers; the lyrics were written by Oscar Hammerstein. This was the Rodgers and Hammerstein first collaboration,
but hardly their last.
The story
is set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906. A cowboy, Curly McLain, is in love with a farmer girl,
Laurey Williams. Jud Fry, a farm hand, is also in love with Laurey. The play also includes the story of another cowboy, Will, and his girlfriend, Ado Annie.
The play
was adapted to film in 1955. The musical, directors, choreographers and actors
have won many awards.
“Oklahoma!”
a song from the musical, is also the state song of Oklahoma. Other famous songs
from the musical include:
“Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'” | “Surrey With the Fringe On Top” | “People Will Say We're in Love”
-
|
ACT I
Overture
- Orchestra
Oh What a Beautiful Mornin' - Curly
Laurey's Entrance - Laurey & Curly
The Surrey With the Fringe On Top - Curly, Laurey, & Aunt Eller
Kansas City - Will, Aunt Eller, Male Ensemble
I Can't Say No - Ado Annie
Entrance of Ensemble (reprises) - Will, Ado Annie, Curley, Aunt Eller, Ensemble
Many a New Day - Laurey / Girl ensemble
It's a Scandal! It's a Outrage! - Ali Hakim and Ensemble
People Will Say We're in Love - Curly/Laurey
Pore Jud is Daid - Curly and Jud Fry
Lonely Room - Jud
Out of My Dreams / Dream Ballet - Laurey w Dream Figures/Dancers |
ACT II
Entr'acte - Orchestra
The Farmer and the Cowman - Andrew Carnes,
Aunt Eller, Curly, Gertie Cummins, Will Parker, Ado Annie Carnes, Laurey, Ike Skidmore, Cord Elam and Ensemble
All Er Nuthin' - Will and Ado Annie
People Will Say We're in Love (Reprise)
- Curly and Laurey
Oklahoma - Curly, Laurey, Aunt Eller, Ensemble
Finale’
Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'
and
People Will Say We're in Love
EntireCompany
|
Original Productions: The original Broadway production opened on March 31, 1943 at the St. James Theatre in New York City. The production ran for 2,212 performances, finally closing on May 29, 1948, running
5 years/2 months, a Broadway record that would not be bested until My Fair Lady
in 1956.
A year
and a half after the Broadway opening, the "first of several" national tours began in New Haven, Connecticut. Productions of 'Oklahoma!' remained on tour in the United States and Canada" through 1954. A 1953 article in The New York Times reported that the show "not only holds the record for the longest run
of a musical on Broadway, but is believed to be the only musical to have enjoyed a consecutive run of ten years. grossing
$7,000,000.
According
to a Guild estimate, 'upwards of 20,000,000 people thus far have seen the show in the United States, England, Sweden, Denmark,
South Africa, Australia and through a special company that toured the U.S.O.
Camp Shows circuit." Oklahoma! was the first of a post-war wave of Broadway musicals
to reach London's West End, opening at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on April 30, 1947 to rave reviews and sellout houses,
running for 1,543 performances.
1951 and 1979 Broadway Revivals: A 1951 revival produced by the Theatre Guild opened at The Broadway Theatre on May 9, 1951, and ran for
100 performances. A 1979 revival played at the Palace Theatre on Broadway, with
nine previews beginning on December 6, 1979. The show opened on December 13,
1979 and closed on August 24, 1980, running for 293 performances. William Hammerstein
(Oscar's son) directed.
1980 London Revival: The following year, William Hammerstein revived his 1979 Broadway staging in England with a new production
at the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester, in 1980. A UK tour followed, produced by Emile Littler and Cameron Mackintosh. It eventually
settled in the West End, opening at the Palace Theatre, London, on September 17, 1980, and running until September 19, 1981.
National Theatre Revival: A new production of the musical was presented by the National Theatre in London at the Olivier Theatre,
opening on July 15, 1998. The production included Trevor Nunn (Director). The
international cast was headed by Australian actor, Hugh Jackman as Curly.
The limited
engagement sold-out breaking all previous box office records. So the show was
transferred to the Lyceum Theatre in the West End for a 6-month run.
Plans to transfer to Broadway with the London cast were thwarted by Actors' Equity,
which insisted that American actors must be cast. Eventually, a U.S. cast was
selected.
Trevor
Nunn revived the London production on Broadway at the George Gershwin Theatre on March 21, 2002. The production closed on
February 23, 2003 after 388 performances. This production was filmed and issued
on DVD, as well as being broadcast on U.S. Public Television in November 2003. It
won a number of Olivier Awards and nominations.
The production toured nationally from 2003–2006.
Adapted from Wikis...
JDSottile / Johnny HiHat Entertainment
|
